Pop-Electronic bass advice

[SoundDesigner]

Hi Justin. I'm new to this forum. Thank you right away for all your attention. Big fan of yours...

I'm playing in a band that, I believe, is in a genre that you're one of the masters. It's very electronic wise. With lots of synths and loops behind.

My question:

I feel I need a good compressor to keep tight with all the programming that´s doing the rest of the rhythm section. Do you have any suggestions? Is this the way to go, compressor wise?

Thanx

Antonio

[jmjbassplayer]

I don't know much about compressors live, I prefer to just get that sort of uniformity of dynamics with my hands, especially if we're talking about integrating electric bass with an otherwise heavily electronic-based sound. It's a worthy challenge to try to constantly improve upon that for anyone.

If anyone else has a good recommendation, please chime in. Otherwise, I'd just try and keep working on doing it with your hands. That's what Beck, Air, Ima Robot, and certainly NIN, all have in common to varying degrees.

JMJ

[mildmanofrock]

I'm not sure if a compressor would help you keep tight with programming - but for a tight, crisp punchy sound that doesn't dull your dynamics, I recommend the EBS MultiComp pedal. It's clear yet tight, and doesn't automatically give you a nasty 'thwak' sound. Unless you want it to.

[mildmanofrock]

Originally Posted by mildmanofrock

I'm not sure if a compressor would help you keep tight with programming - but for a tight, crisp punchy sound that doesn't dull your dynamics, I recommend the EBS MultiComp pedal. It's clear yet tight, and doesn't automatically give you a nasty 'thwak' sound. Unless you want it to.

(Note: sorry, was just browsing this forum, posted without thinking and saw that I'd muscled in on Justin's area! Sorry folks)

[JohnDavisNYC]

I'm gonna go with Justin, that it really is all in the hands, especially if you use other effects, because you have to be in control of what is going into the effects, dynamically speaking... to me compression is more about selecting a compressor for it's specific tonal properties, more that for 'taming dynamics'...

john

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by mildmanofrock

(Note: sorry, was just browsing this forum, posted without thinking and saw that I'd muscled in on Justin's area! Sorry folks)

He did ask others to chime in. I have to admit to being guilty of overly chiming in sometimes. The good news is Justin won't chase you down the street with a butcher knife over it. The bad news is sometimes I feel like I've gotten a little obnoxious. But in this case, you're in the clear.

I have to join in the "hands" crowd, too. I used to use a comp but I quit using it after I had it off one night accidentally and discovered that everything felt better without it.

[rosstanium]

hands.

[sikamikanico]

yes, compression is tricky, but it all depends on other gear... I think many bass heads compress the sound on their own so additional compression is often not needed... not only tube heads, even solidstates...

try to get as close as possible with your playing... I find it that it works really nice if you try to keep the bassline simple and groovy, and do all the "talking" with your playing technique... if, on top of it, the bass sounds natural, the contrast (electronic background vs. natural bass) makes it shine!

+ a lot of "tightness" comes form the band as a whole (when you play together) - but then again, I think people have different views on what "tightness" is...

[SoundDesigner]

Originally Posted by sikamikanico

+ a lot of "tightness" comes form the band as a whole (when you play together) - but then again, I think people have different views on what "tightness" is...

Thank you Justin and the rest of you for the attention to my question.

Yes. I believe that my band is "tight" musically speaking. But what I was asking Justin -and I think he understood- is that in this specific type of project, I felt I would need to even up the dynamics more than usual so it would sit better in the middle of lots of loops, programmed synths and a semi triggered drum set. Different sound but a set close to what Garbage was in a live situation.

I also played with some rock projects but I never felt the need for the compressor.
It's only that I saw a EL distressor in an old rig from Justin and was curious to know the importance of it in his rig. Now I do.

Again, Thank you Justin and thank you all.

[jmjbassplayer]

A compressor MAY be helpful, I dunno. Distressor isn't important, and I don't use it live. Had it in a rack for a while, then pulled it out.

Go listen to "Black Jettas" from Ima Robot. That's sort of what I'm trying to illustrate. No compression.

JMJ

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by SoundDesigner

Thank you Justin and the rest of you for the attention to my question.

Yes. I believe that my band is "tight" musically speaking. But what I was asking Justin -and I think he understood- is that in this specific type of project, I felt I would need to even up the dynamics more than usual so it would sit better in the middle of lots of loops, programmed synths and a semi triggered drum set. Different sound but a set close to what Garbage was in a live situation.

Well, a lot of people do use comps effectively in that situation. It could go either way, and it's more of a personal taste thing than a cut and dry yes or no. No harm in giving it a shot, though...you've only got your money to lose

[SoundDesigner]

I believe I got the message.

Thank you again.

PS- Hope to see you at your gig in Portugal. It's a very, very beautiful venue. I'm sure you'll love it.